Sowghatliq Ketmen

Gift Hoe

The Ketmen (hoe) as a gift.

AThree - Arslan

Arslan Adil

Text arrangement: Gulgina Abdulla

Since he could remember, the hoe never left his father's hand.

In his memory, his father never put down the ketmen (hoe) from his hand.

He played by the field, his father worked in the field.

He often played around the farmland while his father worked in the field.

He wasn't like the kids in the neighborhood playing with mud.

He was not like other ordinary children in the village at all.

He wouldn't stop taking apart and assembling radios and tape recorders.

The radio at home was disassembled and reassembled by him countless times.

For cutting the electric wire causing power outage at home for a day.

Because he cut the wire, the power was out at home for a whole day.

He got beaten by his father until tired for breaking the TV.

He was beaten badly by his father for breaking the TV out of curiosity.

He grew up slowly, became fond of reading books.

Growing up gradually, he became more and more fond of reading.

Since then, the stick his father used to beat him became thicker.

As a result, the stick his father used to beat him became thicker and thicker.

In his imagination he was Nuri saving Sebihe.

At that time his father hit his head and put a hoe in his hand.

Father would always pull him back to reality, making him go to the farm to do "real work".

He thought 'there are many Iron Caliphs around us'.

His mother shouted from the tea house 'go to the field quickly'.

But mother would order him from the yard to go work in the field.

He took the book everywhere, even to the horse and donkey stable.

He wouldn't forget to take his favorite book anywhere, anytime.

He was first in school, but no one went to the parents' meeting.

His grades were first in the whole school but no one ever attended the parent meetings.

He finished high school and waited to go to university.

After the college entrance exam, he looked forward to stepping into the university campus.

Who thought the first notification would give him eternal grief.

Who would have thought the university admission letter would bring him lifelong regret.

Which nation has many uneducated people?

If there is not enough cultural heritage,

I didn't make up this story from this world.

Then it will soon be eliminated by this society.

I didn't weave it, I even saw that sorrowful person.

I didn't make this story up; I have even seen such unfortunate people.

Until when will you gift the hoe to the generation?

Should the ketmen be passed down? Or should it be replaced by books?

Which nation has produced many uneducated people?

If there is not enough cultural heritage,

This story isn't one absent from this world.

Then they will quickly be eliminated by this society.

It’s not woven [fake]; I’ve seen this sufferer myself.

This story isn’t fake; I’ve even seen people with this misfortune.

How long will you give the hoe as a gift to the next generation?

Should the ketmen be passed down? Or should it be replaced by books?

On the admission notice, the words '6000 Yuan' were the biggest.

The most conspicuous words on the admission notice were '6000 Yuan' tuition.

Their entire property was four mu of land and six goats.

All the family savings were six little sheep and four mu of farmland.

Looking at this family's pain, others smile bitterly.

The condition of this family makes outsiders both laugh and cry.

The child wants to study; the family knows this well.

The child wants to study; actually the parents know this very well too.

'Child,' said the father, 'It means selling the house for four years...'

Father said: 'Child, for four years of tuition we'd have to sell our house.'

If that's not enough, selling the sheep, then selling blood.

If that's not enough, we'd have to sell the livestock, maybe even sell blood.

Don't study; I'll find you a good job in the city.

Don't study; I will find you a good job in the city.

If you are willing, I'll even get you a wife at the end of the year.'

'If you want, I can get you a wife at the end of the year too.'

He has a thousand words in his heart but couldn't say one.

The child has many grievances but couldn't speak of his suffering.

Screaming loud where no one is around couldn't change anything.

Loud crying and screaming cannot change the cruel facts.

Time is up; others set out on the path of study.

School started; everyone else set off on the journey of education.

Smoothly, the hoe once again came into the hands of a Uyghur.

The ketmen fell into the hands of a young talent once again.

Too much cold water has been splashed on our intellectuals.

This social trend splashed a lot of cold water on those thirsting for knowledge.

Our Newtons and Einsteins turned into farmers.

The 'Newtons' and 'Einsteins' around us all turned into farmers.

In this state, is it fitting to call Uyghurs 'advanced'?

In this situation, are we ashamed to claim we are knowledgeable?

Will the hoe continue to be the tradition? Will books replace it?

Should the ketmen continue to be inherited? Or should it be exchanged for books?

Which nation has many uneducated people appearing?

If there is not enough cultural heritage

This story from this world that hasn't disappeared

Then one will quickly be eliminated by this society

I didn't weave it, I saw that sufferer

This story isn't woven by me, I have even seen this unfortunate person

Until when will you gift the hoe to the descendant?

Should the ketmen continue to be inherited? Or should it be exchanged for books?

Which nation has many uneducated people appearing?

If there is not enough cultural heritage

This story from this world that hasn't disappeared

Then one will quickly be eliminated by this society

I didn't weave it, I saw that sufferer

This story isn't woven by me, I have even seen this unfortunate person

Until when will you gift the hoe to the descendant?

Should the ketmen continue to be inherited? Or should it be exchanged for books?

Lost Future

Lost Future